Bangladesh should reduce its dependence on external financing and focus on domestic value creation to sustain economic growth, National Professor Mahbub Ullah said at a post-budget seminar organised by Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT).
Speaking at the seminar titled ‘Post-Budget Analysis of the National Budget 2026–27 and the Future Direction of Bangladesh’s Economy’ at BUBT’s International Conference Hall on Wednesday, Mahbub Ullah stressed the need for identifying sustainable sources of investment capital and strengthening economic self-reliance.
He said Bangladesh’s progress over the past five decades should now be followed by greater focus on domestic value addition and sustainable growth rather than reliance on foreign financing.
Mahbub Ullah, who is convener of Bangladesh Economic Association, called for making the readymade garment (RMG) sector more self-reliant and ensuring that export earnings are properly repatriated.
He also attributed Bangladesh’s low tax-to-GDP ratio largely to institutional inefficiencies within the National Board of Revenue (NBR), saying a significant share of national resources is being consumed by debt servicing, limiting effective budget implementation.
Addressing inflation, he said large-scale infrastructure projects undertaken by the previous government had significantly expanded money supply, contributing to current inflationary pressures.
Presenting the keynote paper, Economics Department Professor Muhammad Mahbub Ali said effective implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) would be critical for achieving the objectives of the FY2026–27 national budget.
He stressed the need for quality assurance in development projects and said electricity distribution should remain under public management to ensure transparency and accountability.
Ali also highlighted major economic challenges, including inflation, revenue shortfalls and weak private sector investment, while noting the budget’s focus on human resource development and social protection.
BUBT Faculty of Business and Economics Dean Syed Masud Hossain said post-budget analysis provides important academic and policy insights for shaping the country’s future development path.
BUBT Economics Department Chairman Md Mahmudul Hasan said such discussions encourage young people to develop a deeper understanding of economics, which is essential for long-term economic progress.
The seminar was organised by the Economics Club of BUBT and attended by faculty members, students and other stakeholders.
Other speakers included Economics Department Assistant Professors Tarek Imam Zahid and Md Rakibul Islam, and BUBT Faculty of Science and Engineering Dean Munshi Mahbubur Rahman.
The speakers agreed that the success of the national budget would depend on effective implementation, stronger institutions and greater focus on employment generation for young people.
